Sophia McDougall

@sophiamcdougall.bsky.social

Pronounced like the disappointingly heterosexual Nerina Pallot song. Writer -- ROMANITAS (modern Roman empire) MARS EVACUEES & SPACE HOSTAGES (kids & robots in space!) various scripts for Big Finish plus a movie you can't see yet.

@judgedewie.bsky.socialReposted by @sophiamcdougall.bsky.social

I have seen every imaginable insult, slur and term of abuse in witness statements in criminal cases over the years, describing the verbals uttered by a drunk defendant. Today, for the first time ever, I encountered a case where a police officer was called "a fucking satchel" and "a dirty biscuit".

@aliettedebodard.comReposted by @sophiamcdougall.bsky.social

So i understand that your hope was that signing this charter would encourage publishers to also sign up to it and promote a better environment for ai I disagree with your position that AI is inevitable but I'm going to try and give you the benefit of the doubt (1/?)

@iucounu.bsky.socialReposted by @sophiamcdougall.bsky.social

all you actually have to do is suggest to the public that some fraction of some minority could be getting some sort of help or benefit they don’t deserve and instantly 50% of them will think they all are

YouGov@yougov.co.uk

With much media coverage of a government report that ADHD and autism are being over-diagnosed, a claim which some experts have disputed, half of Britons now believe that the conditions are being over-diagnosed Over-diagnosed: 50% Under-diagnosed: 17% About right: 17% yougov.com/en-gb/daily-...

Photo, no description
@jordanacosta.coReposted by @sophiamcdougall.bsky.social

Thank you @adamchristopher.me for doing the legwork — I combed through my previous emails from the SoA and found nothing regarding this charter.

I noted in my letter of membership termination to the SoA that there has been no consultation with members as as I could see.

Wool over our eyes 👇

My email terminating my membership with the Society of Authors. Text reads: Dear SoA Membership team, I note that my membership for the SoA is up for renewal next month. Following the news of the SoA's signing of the Charter of Ethical AI Use in the Creative Industries without consultation (as far as I have been able to ascertain), I must withdraw my renewal of membership in protest in what I view as an egregious betrayal of the stated goals of the Society of Authors. I would consider rejoining should the society have an honest and open discussion with its members regarding the implications of what the charter actually sets out to do, and reverse its current trajectory. Having read it through twice, the charter's wording does not advance – nor protect – the interests of SoA members; nor anyone in the industry. As far as I'm concerned, fair pay and compensation for authors' creative work – especially when our collective creative intellectual property has been used to train LLMs without our permission – should be the association's priority. Reading the fine print, I simply cannot be believe your aims with signing this ill-advised charter are aligned with your members at large. Please let me know how I can terminate my membership with the Society of Authors at your earliest convenience. Regards, Jordan
@eidyngray.scotReposted by @sophiamcdougall.bsky.social

Actually yes, you should be demanding that corporations who work with you and authors, across the publishing industry, cease the use of GenAI. You should be insisting on contracts that ban its use on editing, marketing, and cover art. Surrender isn't good enough.

@sophiamcdougall.bsky.social

But even viewing this generously, if the SoA can't do anything about publishers using AI NOW, why will it be able to when publishers fail to meet this vague set of goals in the future? How can you be keeping your powder dry when the whole premise of this seems to be "we have no powder".

The Society of Authors@societyofauthors.bsky.social

Our position on generative AI remains unchanged. But an increasing number of organisations within the publishing industry are using the technology. In her blog post our CEO sets out why we want to see the adoption of cross-industry standards. buff.ly/DCPZPY2

CEO Blog Our position on generative AI remains unchanged. Where it is used in the publishing industry, we want to see the adoption of cross-industry standards. However, an increasing number of organisations within the publishing industry are already using generative AI. The Charter was created in collaboration with writers' organisations around the world to call for public, transparent commitments about whether, how and where generative AI is being used.
@jamesdaustin.bsky.socialReposted by @sophiamcdougall.bsky.social

It's always notable how some 'left' people view Russian anxiety around NATO etc as, at the least, legitimate. While the anxiety and desire for security by Baltic and Eastern European states - who have been literally oppressed by Russia within the last 30 years - are not.

@kjcharleswriter.comReposted by @sophiamcdougall.bsky.social

FYI people watching from abroad, the Society of Authors statement was also signed by Australian Society of Authors The New Zealand Society of Authors Te Puni Kaituhi o Aotearoa (PEN NZ) Inc The Writers’ Union of Canada The Association of Illustrators

@brokenbottleboy.bsky.socialReposted by @sophiamcdougall.bsky.social

The Libertines’ debut album Up The Bracket turns 24 today and I was reading a retrospective review of it written in 2025. The writer thinks Pete Doherty took part in the Poll Tax Riots.* They were in 1990. He was 11.

'Time For Heroes', which later became the title of the band's greatest hits album, is a song which perfectly describes the band. Written about Doherty's involvement in the poll tax riots, where he was bludgeoned by an officer after checking his hair in a riot shield, the band dips and peaks to a Clash-infused Beatles skiffle. Britishness at its musical best.
@esherukweku.bsky.socialReposted by @sophiamcdougall.bsky.social

15 outlets published 249 articles about Jason Arday, but there appears to be a partial media blackout regarding Dr Lola Salem, Michael Gove's ex-girlfriend, who has been suspended from Oxford University after being charged with possessing indecent images of children.
jamradio.uk/news/2026/10...

jamradio.ukLola Salem denies indecent-image charges | Jam RadioOxford academic Dr Lola Salem denies indecent-image charges. Her recently reported separation from Michael Gove is a separate matter.
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